Accomplished. Aggressive. Respected.

As employers face increasingly complex regulations and workplace challenges, the employment attorneys at HR LAW COUNSEL are dedicated to helping clients understand their legal obligations, implement tools and strategies to demonstrate compliance, and effectively manage risk. We represent local, regional, and national companies and institutions in all facets of labor and employment law in union and nonunion environments.

Whether navigating fast-moving situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting disruptions to traditional workplaces, advising on the life-cycle of employees beginning with the recruitment and hiring process, or addressing and resolving employment and labor disputes, our attorneys partner with clients to help effectively manage their employees and maintain a positive and productive workplace.

We work with employers every day to manage their workforces with practical and proactive employment strategies that strengthen their employee relations, comply with legal regulations, reduce potential claims, and inform their business practices.

Our attorneys work closely with our clients' human resource professionals, managers, and executives and provide advice on day-to-day workplace and personnel-related matters, including performance management; discrimination and harassment prevention; remote work considerations; disability and religious accommodation; leave laws; pay equity; EEO practices and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; classification of employees and independent contractors; wage and hour compliance; unemployment benefits; workplace safety; and reductions-in-force/layoffs.

We draft a full range of employment agreements and policies for clients, including employee handbooks, executive employment agreements, offer letters, noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements, confidentiality agreements, arbitration agreements, termination notices, and separation agreements.

We also regularly conduct trainings and workshops on employment topics, including harassment, retaliation and discrimination prevention; supervisory best practices; workplace policies and employee protections; attendance management strategies; workplace violence and prevention; social media policies and related challenges; employee accommodations and ADA compliance; and relevant case law changes. We also offer free resources to keep clients current on important legal developments with email alerts, webinar broadcasts and archives, and annual seminars.

We advise and counsel employers on resolving employment disputes before they become lawsuits. If an employer is faced with an employment claim, we work closely with their management team to engage in a thorough early evaluation and develop strategies based on short-term and long-term interests in minimizing litigation risk and in successfully operating their business.

Our employment law and trial lawyers represent clients in federal and state courts, in arbitrations, and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and state employment and labor agencies. HR LAW COUNSEL attorneys have successfully defended through trial and appeal the full range of employment-related claims, including:

• Class actions
• Wage and hour audits and claims
• Misclassification disputes
• Protected leave claims
• Noncompete, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure agreements
• Whistleblower and retaliation claims
• Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims
• Bargaining actions, unfair labor practice charges, and other union disputes
• Constitutional claims against public entities, including First Amendment disputes
• Breach-of-contract claims
• Wrongful termination, defamation, and tortious interference with contract
• Trade secret violations

Our team also regularly conducts independent workplace investigations regarding personnel at all organization levels on issues of varying scope, complexity, and sensitivity, including sexual harassment or sexual misconduct complaints; allegations involving bias or discrimination; complaints related to FMLA or state-leave protections; complaints of retaliation; and violations of corporate policies.

Our clients do business in regions and industries that are among the most competitive for talent in the country. Their success depends on hiring and retaining quality employees, keeping proprietary information away from competitors, and preserving relationships they’ve worked hard to create. HR LAW COUNSEL is an experienced partner at all stages of the employment lifecycle. We support our clients' recruitment of top talent by minimizing risk of claims by former employers. We protect our clients’ business by preparing proactive onboarding, confidentiality and offboarding policies. And we enforce our clients’ rights—in court if needed—when a departing employee threatens to compete unfairly by breaching contractual duties or misappropriating intellectual property, confidential information, or trade secrets.

Smart, professional, detail-oriented and savvy 

(5.0 stars Posted by Richard March 9, 2019)  

From the initial consultation to the end Ethan provided sage advice and expert legal counsel regarding my issue. He communicated effectively and consistently throughout the ordeal and my confidence NEVER wavered that he would defend my position aggressively and professionally. His knowledge of employment law is superb as is his strategic and tactical acumen. I HIGHLY recommend the HR LAW COUNSEL firm and Ethan Zelizer to anyone involved in an employment law dispute.

Everything you could ask for in an advocate 

(5.0 stars Posted by Sue March 26, 2015)

  Ethan represented me against my former employer who I alleged discriminated against me. I was a Junior VP, an 8-year employee, and I was shattered. Quite honestly, I had no idea how I was going to get back on my feet. Within days, he had written the company with a very detailed letter explaining what they had done, why it was illegal, and what his firm planned to do about it. Days later, the Company was putting a significant amount of money on the table to make this "all go away." The settlement was very fair. However, the way Ethan treated me was really what mattered. He coached me and helped me get my confidence back. He actually did a mock interview with me so we could practice how I would spin what happened at the prior company. He didn't need to do that. He didn't need to review my resume. He didn't need to call me back on the weekends AFTER the settlement had closed to make see how my interviews went. This is how you want to be treated. This is what having an attorney should feel like. I will trust Ethan with just about any legal issue for the rest of my years and recommend him to everybody I know. He's the real deal.

A fighter and a patient, empathetic ear 

(5.0 stars Posted by Pavlo April 2, 2017 )

 Ethan and his staff came into my life at one of the worst times I had ever been through. They continued being there for me, guiding not only me, but also my wife through an uphill battle against my cancer and my former employer. Words fail me as I try to describe what Ethan has done for me and my family. His confidence, faith, humor, knowledge, patience and wisdom has reaffirmed my faith in the legal system.  Ethan pursued my employer for months, first at the EEOC and ultimately filing a federal lawsuit that was then mediated and resolved exactly the way Ethan had predicted. Along the way, he interviewed me and my former coworkers extensively, told me where the case was strong, identified the weaknesses, assisted me in the mundane (like Obamacare) and tenaciously advocated for me like nobody had ever done before.  Bottom line is I made the best choice with Ethan and his group. I was lost, and they made sure I knew exactly where I stood every step of the way. To me and my wife ethan will always have an open door to our life, not just professionally, but as members of our extended family.

Top Notch 

(5.0 stars Posted by Deborah February 16, 2021)

 Ethan represented me approximately 4 months ago after my former employer threatened to sue me and my new employer for alleged violations of a noncompete agreement and trade secret issues.  Ethan is an excellent negotiator and by far the best lawyer I have ever worked with. He was very kind, but at the same time got right to the heart of the key issues. He was very professional while working with me, my new employer, and the other party's attorney.  Ethan is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to restrictive covenants and non-compete law. He was quick to learn the intricacies of my business -- a business not commonly understood outside the biotech/investment industry. He quickly gained the confidence and trust of my new employer as well.  Ethan is also relentless. He wouldn't let me or my new company settle when a relatively easy settlement was available. He expressed his concerns about the non monetary and competitive consequences of the would-be settlement when we were punch drunk and ready to move on. He was resolute on what he believed was a fair outcome and he propped me up when I was getting fatigued by the process. Moreover, he was always thinking about how to better my position, my company's position, and my position within my new company.  I was surprised at the level of effort and concern Ethan exhibited about my career and my relationship with my new employer. He could have simply focused on the conflict with my previous employer. However, ethan wanted to make Sure my current employer understood that I had not violated my old agreement, the law, or my previous employer's trust. He worked hard to build a strong relationship with my current employer that reflected well on me, my judgment, my abilities, and my work ethic.  Ethan was the reason my old employer stood down and ultimately agreed to a universal settlement agreement. That agreement ultimately bettered my position and that of my new Company while simultaneously offering some assurances to my old company (which came easily and without a cost to us). Perhaps it's not all that surprising that my current employer hired Ethan to assist it with a separate matter after my suit had concluded. Ethan is that type of guy; imminently likeable, fair, trustworthy and relentless in his advocacy for his client.  I am very happy with the final outcome of our case, the professional relationship we developed, and the friendship that resulted from Ethan's top notch representation.

Excellent 

(5.0 stars Posted by James February 11, 2019)

 I met Ethan while defending a lawsuit brought against my company from a former employee that he was representing. His knowledge of employment law resulted in our losing the first employment case brought against us in our company's history.  Based on that experience, I hired Ethan to represent my wife and I when we needed an employment law expert. Ethan turned out to be responsive, extremely knowledgeable about employment law and kept me in the loop every step of the way. He was a great negotiator and provided the guidance I needed that resulted in a positive outcome. I was also impressed with his ability to work with me as a partner. He took my input and used it toward helping the situation. He is a great listener who uses good information to his advantage.  I felt very confident I was in good hands. I highly recommend Ethan for anyone or any company who needs legal representation for an employment law matter.